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JBL Stage A190 vs Klipsch R-820F Comparison

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JBL Stage A190

Passive Floor-standing | 36-40k Hz

JBL Stage A190
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Klipsch R-820F

Passive Floor-standing | 35-21k Hz

Klipsch Reference R-820F
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JBL Stage A190 JBL Stage A190
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Klipsch R-820F Klipsch R-820F
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JBL Stage A190
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Klipsch R-820F
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JBL Stage A190 vs Klipsch R-820F Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing A190 and R-820F, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from JBL and Klipsch.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of JBL Stage A190 and Klipsch R-820F first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

JBL Stage A190 Key Specs

  • 2-way Design
  • 1" HDI (High Definition Imaging) waveguide Tweeter
  • 2 x 8" Polycellulose Woofer
  • 36-40k Hz Frequency Response
  • 91 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 6ohms
  • Power Range:20-225watts
  • Weight:22.61kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 1117.0" x 13-1/4" x 17-1/2"( 1117.0 x 337.0 x 445.0mm )

Klipsch R-820F Key Specs

  • 2-way Design
  • 1" Tweeter
  • 2 x 8" Copper-spun IMG Woofer
  • 35-21k Hz Frequency Response
  • 97 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 8ohms
  • Power Range:up to 150watts
  • Weight:24.55kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 1096.0" x 10-7/8" x 16-3/4"( 1096.0 x 277.0 x 426.0mm )

What size room are the JBL Stage A190 and Klipsch R-820F speakers good for?

The size of the room in which you are planning to use these loudspeakers is an important decision factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their size and max power parameters:

Listening Environment* JBL Stage A190 Klipsch R-820F
Near-field Bad Bad
Small Room Poor Poor
Mid-size Room Average Good
Large Room Good Good
Very Large Room Average Poor

(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2, Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: > 400 sq. ft / 36 m2. Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening position, speaker locations, etc.)

In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the JBL Stage A190 and Klipsch R-820F compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.


**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.


Drivers

Both A190 and R-820F are 2-way speakers.

Driver JBL Stage A190 Klipsch R-820F
Driver Setup 2-way 2-way
Tweeter 1-inch 1-inch
Midrange - -
Woofer 2 x 8-inch 2 x 8-inch

A190 features a 1" aluminum HDI (High Definition Imaging) waveguide Tweeter and 2 x 8" Polycellulose Woofer . On the other hand, the R-820F features a 1" Tweeter and 2 x 8" Copper-spun IMG Woofer .

Frequency Response

A190 has a frequency range of 36-40k Hz whereas R-820F has a frequency range of 35-21k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 35Hz, the R-820F can go slightly deeper then the A190's min frequency of 36Hz.

Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.

Low Frequency

Floor-standing Speakers

A190
R-820F
Min
Average
Max
High Frequency

Floor-standing Speakers

JBL Stage A190
Klipsch R-820F
Min
Average
Max

None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.

Impedance and Sensitivity

A190 is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the R-820F which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.

These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. A190 sensitivity is rated at 91 dB and the R-820F's is rated at 97 dB. This 6 dB difference makes the Klipsch R-820F a more sensitive speaker compared to JBL Stage A190, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.

Sensitivity

Floor-standing Speakers

A190
R-820F
Min
Average
Max

Power Range

Power range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. While using an amplifier within this range ensures the nominal performance , inputting a power that is higher than the max wattage can result in a damaged speaker.

A190 can handle a max power of 225 watts RMS from the amp the whereas R-820F has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS, 75 watts less than the A190.

Keep in mind that a higher max power handling value doesn't necessarily make that a louder speaker compared to a lower max handling speaker. Loudness or the sound level is also impacted by parameters such as Impedance, sensitivity and system efficiencies.

Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring

A190 features 5-Way post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. R-820F has a Post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.

Physical Specs

Size of a speaker can sometimes become an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare JBL Stage A190's and Klipsch R-820F's external dimensions. JBL Stage A190 has external dimensions of 1117.0 x 337.0 x 445.0mm ( 43-15/16 x 13-1/4 x 17-1/2inch) whereas Klipsch R-820F has external dimensions of 1096.0 x 277.0 x 426.0mm ( 43-1/8 x 10-7/8 x 16-3/4inch) .

JBL Stage A190 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 60mm wider, 21mm taller and 19mm deeper than Klipsch R-820F.

Below you can see the front view size comparison of JBL Stage A190 and Klipsch R-820F in scale.

JBL Stage A190 vs Klipsch R-820F Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of JBL Stage A190 and Klipsch R-820F Size and External Dimensions

Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited. The base surface area of the JBL Stage A190 is approximately 1499.7cm2 / 232.5inch2 and base area of the Klipsch R-820F is approximately 1180.0cm2 / 182.9inch2. The A190 requires 27% more surface area than the R-820F which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.

Weight Comparison

The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The JBL Stage A190 weighs 22.61kg / 49.7lbs and the Klipsch R-820F weighs 24.55kg / 54lbs. This makes the R-820F 9% heavier than the A190.

Here is a comparison of how A190 and R-820F's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.

Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
JBL Stage A190
Klipsch R-820F
Min
Average
Max

What's in the Box of JBL Stage A190?

Here are the items that are included inside the box of A190:
  • Floorstanding loudspeaker
  • Grille
  • 4 Outriggers
  • 4 Rubber feet
  • 4 Spikes
  • 8 Screws
  • 2 Terminal jumpers (pre-installed)
  • Owners Manual
  • Warranty Card
  • What's in the Box of Klipsch R-820F?

    Here are the items that come with the R-820F:
  • Floorstanding loudspeaker
  • Grille (installed)
  • 2 Feet
  • 4 Screws
  • Quick Setup Guide
  • Important Safety Instructions
  • Warranty Information
  • Loudspeaker Feet note

  • Reasons to choose JBL Stage A190 over Klipsch Reference R-820F
    Max Input Power 225 watts vs 150 watts Handle more power from your amplifier
    High Frequency Response 40k Hz vs 21k Hz Generates higher frequency
    Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring Yes vs No Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections
    Price per pair* 1000USD vs 1198USD costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)

    Reasons to choose Klipsch Reference R-820F over JBL Stage A190

    Sensitivity 97 dB vs 91 dB Play louder with same amount of amplification power
    Nominal Impedance 8 ohms vs 6 ohms Less selective with amplifiers
    Low Frequency Response 35 Hz vs 36 Hz Generates deeper bass
    Height 1096mm vs 1117mm Easier to fit in smaller spaces
    Base Surface Area 1180cm2 vs 1499cm2 Takes less floor space
    JBL Stage A190 vs Klipsch R-820F Specs Table
    Detailed comparison of specifications
    General JBL Stage A190 Klipsch Reference R-820F
    Brand JBL Klipsch
    Speaker Type Floor-standing speaker Floor-standing speaker
    Power Range 20-225 watts up to 150 watts
    Sensitivity 91 dB 97 dB
    Impedance 6 ohms 8 ohms
    Frequency Response 36-40k Hz 35-21k Hz
    Drivers
    Woofer Quantity 2 2
    Woofer Size 8" 8"
    Woofer Composition Polycellulose Copper-spun IMG
    Woofer Surround Material Rubber Rubber
    Tweeter Size 1" 1"
    Tweeter Type HDI (High Definition Imaging) waveguide n/a
    Aimable Tweeter No No
    Midrange Driver No No
    Physical Specs
    Height 1117.0mm (44") 1096.0mm (43.1")
    Width 337.0mm (13.3") 277.0mm (10.9")
    Depth 445.0mm (17.5") 426.0mm (16.8")
    Weight 22.61kg (49.7lbs) 24.55kg (54lbs)
    Enclosure Bass Reflex Bass Reflex
    Finish MDF, Vinyl MDF/Wood-grain vinyl
    Available Colors Black Black
    Grille Yes Yes
    Moisture Resistancy No No
    Connections
    Biamp Inputs Yes No
    Other
    Parts Warranty 5 Years 5 Years
    Labor Warranty 5 Years 5 Years

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